too small

[Abaddon91]

my bp is about 2 1/2 feet and 431g i think that s/he is only about 6 months to a year old is s/he to small do i need to feed her alot more i picked her up at a pet shop about 3 weeks ago and fed her once then she went into shed so she hasnt eaten in about a week

[ballpythonluvr]

All snakes grow at different rates. There is no specific weight or length. What kind of prey item are you feeding, rats or mice?

[Abaddon91]

trying to feed live rats but shes not eating idk why she ate the day we got her a live rat but we are trying to feed her now and she just ignores it but she tastes the air moving around alot all the signs shes hungry

[ballpythonluvr]

I would try a live mouse and see if she eats that.

[Alexandra V]

If she doesn't take a mouse the next time, then try her on an african soft-furred rat the following feeding. As for whether or not she's too small, it's difficult to tell other than by eye. If she looks "triangular" (i.e. with her spine being pretty visible) then she's too thin. Otherwise, there's no age-to-size ratio for you to be able to tell if she's on track.

[DarrinLowe]

My 6 month female is 100 grams.. So I guess anything can happen.

[Abaddon91]

this is scar (named so becuse he has a bite on his side that left a scar pervious owner) in regards to the asf my local petsbarn sells african spiny rats insted of asf same? diferent?

[Alexandra V]

my local petsbarn sells african spiny rats insted of asf same? diferent?

Well he doesn't look underweight at all, which is good.

I've heard the term African Spiny Rat before, and to the best of my knowledge although they aren't the same as an ASF. I've read that their hairs are abnormally stiff, but not so much so that they're like a hedgehog, although they complete a similar function as armor.

I'm going to need to get some other opinions on this one, but I don't see why you shouldn't offer one.

[cinderbird]

you do not want to feed any kind of spiny mice, they are prickly and I don't imagine they would make a suitable food item (imagine trying to swallow a porcupine).

Rats or mice. If you can find ASF's, try that if you want. If not, some ball pythons stop eating when it gets cold in the northern hemisphere. Its not a big deal as long as they don't lose a lot of weight (50 grams over 4 months is not a lot of weight for example).

[Alexandra V]

you do not want to feed any kind of spiny mice, they are prickly and I don't imagine they would make a suitable food item (imagine trying to swallow a porcupine).

Thanks for clearing that up. I wasn't sure if they were actually that prickly or not